HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays
25 Jan Government Tax Profession

HMRC home working ‘not to blame’ for self-assessment helpline delays

Perm sec blames unnecessary calls and last-minute rush to file tax returns for busy phone lines
by Tevye Markson
HMRC helpline summer closure 'nothing to do with flexible working', second perm sec insists
29 Jun Government Tax Profession
HMRC helpline summer closure 'nothing to do with flexible working', second perm sec insists
MPs ask HMRC for answers over summer helpline closure
16 Jun Government Tax Profession
MPs ask HMRC for answers over summer helpline closure
Hunt urged to 'think twice' about closing Office of Tax Simplification
14 Mar Government Tax Profession
Hunt urged to 'think twice' about closing Office of Tax Simplification
Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers to re-open as PM sets out lockdown easing
23 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers to re-open as PM sets out lockdown easing

Boris Johnson says country’s “long hibernation is coming to an end”
Explained: All the key changes to England's coronavirus lockdown announced by Boris Johnson
23 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Explained: All the key changes to England's coronavirus lockdown announced by Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson has announced a major relaxation of the coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England. But what are the details of the new plans and how will it impact on our day-to-day lives?
NAO scrutiny 'generated £1.1bn in savings and better public services' in 2019
23 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
NAO scrutiny 'generated £1.1bn in savings and better public services' in 2019

Watchdog says every £1 it spends creates £16 of positive financial impact
Implement my recommendations or risk another Windrush, review author warns Home Office
22 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Implement my recommendations or risk another Windrush, review author warns Home Office

Warning comes as department forms a cross-government working group to "address the challenges faced by the Windrush generation and their descendants"
Coronavirus: DWP ‘must not ignore’ people claiming legacy benefits after Universal Credit boost
22 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus: DWP ‘must not ignore’ people claiming legacy benefits after Universal Credit boost

Recipients of benefits including jobseekers’ allowance and employment support allowance have “slipped down the list of priorities”, says committee chair
Home Office faces court challenge over 'discriminatory' visa algorithm
22 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Home Office faces court challenge over 'discriminatory' visa algorithm

JCWI says the algirith discriminates on the basis of nationality – by design"
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 19
22 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 19

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
'Our country is stronger for your service': Sedwill confirms McDonald to retire as FCO perm sec
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
'Our country is stronger for your service': Sedwill confirms McDonald to retire as FCO perm sec

Departure comes as PM seeks new leadership for merged  Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Coronavirus alert level should finally move down from Level 4 to Level 3, say UK’s chief medical officers
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus alert level should finally move down from Level 4 to Level 3, say UK’s chief medical officers

Health secretary Matt Hancock says update shows "the government's plan is working"
Coronavirus has slowed removal of deadly Grenfell-style cladding even further, watchdog warns
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus has slowed removal of deadly Grenfell-style cladding even further, watchdog warns

MHCLG “had not assessed how its timeframe for completing remediation would be affected” by Covid-19
Case study: How academic ‘policy entrepreneurs’ can help the civil service
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Case study: How academic ‘policy entrepreneurs’ can help the civil service

From the impact of Covid-19 to dealing with the impact of climate change, government has never faced greater policy challenges. But, as recent work on developing policy strategies for carbon capture and storage shows, civil servants can get help from academics to find the right solutions. Professor Karen Turner, the director from the Centre for Energy Policy at the University of Strathclyde, explains

DWP gets ministerial direction to breach spending limits in 'extraordinary circumstances' of Covid-19
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
DWP gets ministerial direction to breach spending limits in 'extraordinary circumstances' of Covid-19

Perm sec Peter Schofield asked sought approval for spending that might breach Treasury guidance on "regularity and propriety grounds"
Renationalising outsourced services could improve quality and reliability, think tank says
19 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Renationalising outsourced services could improve quality and reliability, think tank says

IfG report encouraging government to re-examine contracts comes as MoJ plans to bring probation services back in house
Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app ‘not a priority’ and may not be ready until winter, minister says
18 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Coronavirus: NHS contact tracing app ‘not a priority’ and may not be ready until winter, minister says

Health minister says there is a of "alienating or freaking out people" using test, track and trace system
Foreign Office head Simon McDonald to step down early next year – reports
18 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Foreign Office head Simon McDonald to step down early next year – reports

Diplomat will oversee merger with DfID but will not lead FCDO long term, sources say
Defra offers £135k for COO who will 'challenge status quo'
18 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Defra offers £135k for COO who will 'challenge status quo'

Candidate sought to deliver "significant and real step change in performance and outcomes"
'Wrong and regressive': three former prime ministers condemn DfID-FCO merger
17 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
'Wrong and regressive': three former prime ministers condemn DfID-FCO merger

Union warns of "huge uncertainty and unease for DfID staff" as David Cameron calls the move a "mistake"
DfID and Foreign Office to merge, PM announces
16 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
DfID and Foreign Office to merge, PM announces

Scrapping of aid department follows appointment of joint ministers in February, widely seen as a soft merger
More than 600,000 workers have lost jobs amid coronavirus lockdown, new figures suggest
16 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
More than 600,000 workers have lost jobs amid coronavirus lockdown, new figures suggest

Experimental ONS and HMRC data reveals indicative employment impact of Covid-19
More than 100 furloughed workers join civil service as volunteers to tackle Covid-19
16 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
More than 100 furloughed workers join civil service as volunteers to tackle Covid-19

Volunteers are ‘using their skills for the greater good’, chief people officer says
Cutting special adviser numbers could hinder effective government, NICS head says
15 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Cutting special adviser numbers could hinder effective government, NICS head says

Timing of measure "would be detrimental to the efficient conduct and continuity of business", David Sterling warns
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen hold talks in bid to break Brexit deadlock
15 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Boris Johnson and Ursula von der Leyen hold talks in bid to break Brexit deadlock

The PM will be joined on the call by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove and UK’s chief negotiator David Frost.
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 15
15 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Latest civil service & public affairs moves — June 15

New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Equalities watchdog to probe Home Office ‘hostile environment’ policy in wake of Windrush scandal
15 Jun 2020 Government Tax Profession
Equalities watchdog to probe Home Office ‘hostile environment’ policy in wake of Windrush scandal

EHRC legal action will review whether immigration measures complied with equality law